JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – The Middle East is entering a critical moment as the United States and Iran trade sharp rhetoric over what comes next. At the same time, Israel is closing a chapter with the return of the last hostage remains from Gaza, and a new report reveals a surge in global antisemitism.
Reports on Thursday indicated that Iran’s failure to respond to President Trump’s calls to negotiate on limiting its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program has the president considering a military strike to create conditions for regime change in Iran.
President Trump has warned that time is running out as he escalates pressure on the Islamic Republic, shifting from talk of rescuing the Iranian people to a renewed focus on demanding a nuclear deal.
In a Truth Social post, Trump warned, “A massive armada his heading to Iran,” calling on Tehran to negotiate immediately. He urged Iran to “come to the table” and agree to “no nuclear weapons.”
Trump also issued a stark warning, saying that if Iran does not make a deal, the next strike would be far worse than Operation Midnight Hammer, the U.S. attack last year on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In a post on social media, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi insisted that Iranian forces are prepared to immediately and powerfully respond.
A senior advisor to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. military move would be met with an “immediate and unprecedented” response, including strikes on Tel Aviv.
The leader of the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon, Naim Kassem, claims the group is also preparing to retaliate in the event of a U.S.-Israel attack on Iran.
Kassem threatened, “When Trump, or anyone else, threatens to kill the leader (Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), that means he’s threatening … tens of millions …We are committed to carrying out all the measures and preparations to confront this threat.”
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